How to make the best of charitable giving

Monday

Oct 9, 2017 at 9:38 AM

by Zachary Brown

The sad truth of life is that there are tragedies every day. There have been 521 mass shooting in the United States in 2017. There have been hurricanes, flooding, riots, police shooting and police killings. So much tragedy that one might be forgiven in feeling like there was nothing to be done. However, when America experiences tragedies it can inspire some of the most amazing displays of heroism, civic duty, self-sacrifice and kinship. So, when I’m feeling helpless, like nothing I can do will make any impact on my world, I remember that sometimes the best support that I can lend is monetary.

Charitable giving is no small feat. I don’t know about you, but after I get done with the bills, food, gas, and saving for my family’s future there is little left… but there is some. It’s not like saving kittens from trees, but giving your hard earned money to others is the definition of feeding strangers off your table. And although volunteerism is virtuous and needed, when you give the right way, you are funding people with the training and skills to be most effective.

No one should tell you what type of charity you should give to. It should be an organization that serves a need for which you feel passion. As you may know, I’m the chairman of Junior Achievement in Gaston County. I give and serve this organization because I have passion for teaching financial education. You have to find what motivates you. However, there are some markers that can tell you if the organization is operating correctly and honestly.

The first step is to make sure the organization has been accepted as a 501c3. This classifies the organization as a non-profit as certified by the government. Not only is this the lowest bar an organization should hurdle, it also ensures that the donations it receives are eligible for favorable tax treatment for the donor.

The key deciding factor for me is learning what the non-profit’s reputation is as an entity. Does it have an efficient track record of accomplishing its mission? What is the overhead? How much of your donation is going to implement of service, and how much is going toward staffing or offices? Now, with that being said I would warn against painting with a broad brush. Just because a charity has a steep payroll doesn’t mean they’re inferior to one that doesn’t.

When doing research I would recommend sites such as charitywatch.com or charitynavigator.com. They have databases that can be easily searched. However, they may overlook some smaller, local charities who don’t have the national footprint that the larger organizations do.

Sometimes the best research is living in your community and taking note of the groups who make a difference in your world. However you choose to give I hope you do. It might not add to your bottom line directly, but it contributes to our collective national project, it turns citizens into neighbors.